Chapter 24 – Gate

(This name can change if you have any better alternative.)

Ricky had been given tremendous powers by a demon lady. She had told him that he would even be able to kill a wyvern, meaning the same power level as the hero.

And yet, he couldn't even land a proper punch on a mere A-ranker? Did she trick him? Was all she had told him just a lie?

Maybe he will have to unleash his full power to achieve that strength?

But, just to defeat a mere A-ranker?

Ricky remained laying there on the ground while breathing ruggedly. His eyes carried deep hatred and resentment towards Lord Hardy, towards this whole Dulia town which had given him nothing but suffering.

"Ricky, I know that you have suffered a lot… Maybe your mother had suffered even worse to the point that she had to kill herself…" Lord Hardy spoke while Ricky remained unmoving.

At first, he had thought that these kids would surrender after some intimidation. But their motivation seems to originate from a different source. Especially that of Ricky's as his eyes could tell a lot. So Lord Hardy tried to use a different approach.

"Maybe it was because of my incompetence as a mayor that I couldn't extend my helping hand… And I wouldn't make a lousy excuse such as 'I had to handle the whole town'. Although it wouldn't bring your mother back, I would still ask for your forgiveness…" Lord Hardy's sincere voice resounded as he bowed.

A leader cannot make excuses even if they sound perfectly rational. He has to take responsibility for whatever happens regardless of the circumstances.

He continued after a pause, "Your mistake is still redeemable as no harm was done to the children. Come, surrender yourself and tell us the mastermind behind all this…"

And before he could complete his sentence, "Bwahahaha!!.... Hahahaha!!" Ricky laughed hard holding his stomach as though he had heard the funniest joke in existence. A few minutes later as his laughter died down, he spoke while everyone remained silent, "What? Did you just admit your crimes? Hahahaha! What a joke! After killing my mother, you are asking for forgiveness? Do YoU HaVe No ShAmE?"

Ricky's last sentence sounded extremely sinister as he had unleashed all the darkness he had. The miasma then retreated and stuck on his body to create a sheath all over it. Most of it gathered on his hands, shaping them like claws.

He stood up and everyone present gasped. His appearance had become more sinister and beastly along with his voice which sent chills down everyone's spines.

Ricky had big black ghastly claws while his swollen body was all covered in darkness. His appearance only brought a single word into everyone's minds…

"Demon!" Someone muttered.

Now Jack also appeared near them. He looked to his side and found a familiar lean figure approaching. And realized that he was the guy who had kindly guided him to the guild that day. If he remembers correctly, his name should be Andrew.

Andrew leisurely walked towards him with a smile plastered over his face while carrying something on his shoulders.

Jack looked carefully to know what it was and smiled knowingly.

"Hehe, brother hero, we meet again!" He said as he put the boys on the ground like he was putting some weightless plastic dolls, all the while maintaining his trademark wide smile.

He looked at Jack who had a questioning look. So he answered, "Hehe, these kids seemed like they were trying to steal food or something… I mean, they must have accidentally kidnapped the kids while doing so, no?"

Jack giggled, understanding the indirect meaning behind and they both then turned their attention towards the beastly Ricky.

"The time has come to take my revenge! I will take it one way or another," Ricky's sinister sound resounded which contained a hidden meaning.

*Woosh*

He dashed towards Lord Hardy with tremendous speed which surpassed his previous one by many times.

*Bam!*

Just to be interrupted by Alban's rock fists once again. Ricky was now extremely annoyed with Alban. He was just putting his nose in his business again and again. He will have to take care of him first. Ricky didn't know that he was losing his rationality slowly.

*Scratch* *Scratch*

Ricky used his dark claws ferociously which completely destroyed Alban's rock fists. He wasted no time in sending more claw attacks towards Alban's chest. So Alban hastily materialized rock shields before his chest which crumbled with Ricky's attacks.

This time, Ricky paid attention below as he firmly rooted his feet on the ground to not lose his balance like last time.

*Bam* *Bam* *Bam*

Alban managed to land a few powerful blows just to notice that his blows couldn't damage his body due to his heightened defense.

Normal punches wouldn't work, so he decided to take advantage of his divided attention. They exchanged few blows like that before Alban rotated his body 90 degrees like he was trying to show something to Ricky and,

*Boom!*

Came a giant earth fist from Alban's behind and sent Ricky flying like a broken kite. He fell to the ground and spat out a mouthful of blood.

Even though Ricky was slightly more powerful than Alban, there was still a vast difference between their experiences. Alban had yet to use his full prowess and long-ranged attacks.

Ricky was getting more and more furious while completely losing his rationality. He ferociously dashed towards Alban once again.

Alban noticed the abnormality and furrowed his brows. And as soon as Rick neared Alban's striking range, the ground below one of his feet caved in, breaking his stance like before.

*Bam!*

Alban's earth fist sent him flying once again. Yet, Ricky didn't stop and attacked Alban several times like a wild beast.

*Bam!*

*Bam!*

*Bam!*

And was sent flying again and again. Now his movements also became lousy. Though the tremendous pain brought Ricky to his senses. He realized that he was still no match for even an A-ranker. Frustration, resentment, hatred, helplessness, and regret, myriad of emotions clouded his mind.

While they were fighting, Jack heard a 'boom' sound which seemed to come from afar, probably a few kilometers away. There was a possibility that some powerful beasts were fighting. Though, he still decided to check it once this fight was resolved.

...

Now the only option that remained to take his revenge was his second plan. Ricky's target lay inside the carts. However, the cart was several meters away from him. He wasn't sure if he could achieve his goal with his speed as the guild master was also waiting behind those carts.

"Ricky, please surrender yourself if you have had enough…" Lord Hardy's voice came.

He dashed towards Alban once again just to be sent flying. But despite the tremendous pain wreaking havoc in his chest, he just smiled hideously.

He managed to balance his landing on his feet and used the momentum to dash towards a cart.

Alban and Lord Hardy noticed what he was doing and before they could react in time, Ricky had already managed to grab Milo from the cart.

Milo had fallen asleep in the cart after crying helplessly for a long time. Now he was once again awoken with Ricky's rough treatment and started bawling.

Ricky held Milo's chest with one hand while he extended his claws to his neck, "Hehehe, a life for a life, Lord Hardy! I wonder how you would feel after losing your own grandson!? Would our suffering match?"

Lord Hardy's face turned ashen as he began to lose his calmness. "Till now, I still believed that you had yet to lose your humanity. You proved me wrong. You have completely become a demon!" he said in a deep voice.

"I guess not!" Ricky blurted and took a look at his surroundings. He then started chanting something obscure.

Jack gestured to Andrew to follow him with his eyes and disappeared from his spot. He knew that Andrew was also powerful as he had guessed it from his aura.

Jack appeared behind Ricky who found his hands getting forcefully pulled to his back. Ricky got stunned for a moment before he saw Milo getting carried away by Andrew.

He turned his head to see who it was and found an expressionless Jack tightly locking his hands to his back. He finally understood the gap in their strength as he couldn't even sense him approaching.

And just as despair was going to grip his heart, he smiled hideously and continued his obscure incantation.

This was his final trump card which the demon lady had told him to use in emergencies. This would give a tremendous boost to his powers and incinerate all the enemies from his surroundings.

*Thump* *Thump*

As soon as his incantation completed in the next second, his internal energies became chaotic. His heart started roaring as his blood vessels swelled to their limit. And to Ricky's surprise, it brought tremendous pain rather than power.

And just when everyone breathed a sigh of relief, Jack sensed the abnormality and he had a bad premonition. It felt like Ricky had become a ticking bomb that would blast in the next moment.

And not just Ricky, he sensed the same chaotic energies from his other unconscious companions which were laying near the cart and near some adventurers.

Now he had a second at most or else the bodies would explode bringing down the surrounding people with them. He had no choice but to unleash his full power to make it in time.

*Boom!*

Jack's aura exploded as he opened his 'gate'. Everyone felt a big shockwave which made them take a few steps back. While Jack threw Ricky's body in the air and wasted no time in doing the same to the other ones.

*Boom* *Boom* *Boom*

And before everyone could register what had just happened, they heard loud booming sounds from the sky.